SRT USA

October 29, 2015

Subaru recently revealed a collection of legendary rally cars in Los Angeles at Global Rallycross and Subiefest events. These cars tell winning Subaru rally stories. From record-breaking models to championship-winning icons, this collection covers the globe and exemplifies the breadth and diversity of the Subaru rally legacy.

2015 Isle of Man Subaru WRX STI

This 2015 Subaru WRX STI piloted by Mark Higgins set a new lap record of the fabled 37-mile Isle of Man TT Road Course with an average lap speed of 116.470 and a time of 19.26. This breaks the previous record of 115.36 that was set in 2012 by Mark Higgins in a 2010 Subaru WRX STI.

This U.S.-spec 2015 WRX STI is stock with the exception of an FIA-spec roll cage, racing seat and harness, fire suppression system, and modified springs and dampers to handle the sustained high speeds and changing conditions of the course. The Subaru WRX STI also features Dunlop Direzza tires and a high-decibel straight exhaust for crowd safety. The speed limiter also was removed from the car.

2012 Subaru Impreza WRX STI S206 NBR Challenge Model

The 2012 Subaru Impreza WRX STI S206 NBR Challenge model was released in Japan to commemorate the class win at the Nürburgring 24 Hours endurance race. This limited-edition model is accented by a carbon roof, original dry carbon rear spoiler, and clad with the S206 Nürburgring Challenge badge. The engine is exclusive for the S206, the weight balance between the piston, connecting rod, and crankshaft is optimized to enhance the rev feel. Along with a ball bearing turbocharger, ECU (Engine Control Unit) with STI tuning, and a sports muffler with lowered back pressure exhaust – the S206 produces a total of 315 horsepoer and a peak torque of 318 lb-ft.

2004 Subaru WRX STI

The 2004 Impreza WRX STi is an ultra-high-performance, all-wheel drive sedan. Based on the critically acclaimed Subaru Impreza WRX, this Impreza WRX STi is completely re-engineered to provide world-class sports car levels of acceleration, handling, and braking performance. The Impreza WRX STi is powered by a turbocharged and intercooled 2.5-liter DOHC boxer engine producing 300 horsepower and 300 lb-ft of peak torque, teamed exclusively to a 6-speed manual transmission. Power is transferred to all four wheels via a sophisticated Subaru All-Wheel Drive system designed to optimize performance in all conditions.

1999 Subaru Impreza 22B STi Rally Car

In 1998 Subaru produced a wide-body coupe WRX STi named the 22B STi from March through August of that year. It was to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of Subaru, as well as the third consecutive manufacturer’s title for Subaru in the FIA WRC (1995-1997). All 400 Japanese units sold within one hour of being released for sale. The 22B boasts a 280-hp 2212cc 4-cylinder boxer engine and widened body from the Peter Stevens-designed WRC car. During assembly, a WRX Type R chassis was taken off the assembly line for upgrading. Modifications included a unique hood, front and rear fenders, adjustable rear wing, Bilstein suspension, red-painted Brembo brakes, special tires and rims, and a ceramic-disc clutch.

1996 Subaru Impreza 555 Rally Car

The 555 Rally Car was used on the auto show circuit to promote the launch of the Impreza 2.5RS Coupe in the 1998 model year. It is a WRX STi Type RA (Rally Applicant) that was often used as the basis for a rally car built by privateers and non-factory teams to compete in World Rally Championship (WRC) Group N competition. It features a 270-hp 2.0-litre turbocharged boxer 4-cylinder engine. It is displayed in non-555 livery to comply with the ban of tobacco related advertising in certain countries that were part of the WRC racing circuit. The hash marks, which themselves are stylized images of the famous 555 logo, were used to comply with the ban while still alluding to the cigarette manufacturer’s sponsorship of the WRC team.

July 09, 2015

The Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally (STPR) wasn’t a race to be taken lightly and crucial title points were up for grabs.

Mathematically, Subaru Rally Team USA (SRT USA) could secure the Rally America National Championship at STPR. But even with a 330-hp Subaru WRX STI and a four-time Rally America Championship driver and co-driver, anything can happen out on the stages.

Since debuting the new 2015 WRX STI rally car at Sno*Drift, driver David Higgins and co-driver Craig Drew have been leaving the competition in the dust each race.

Heading into this rally, the #75 team held a 26-point lead over their nearest competitor and had won the last 10 races. Could they keep up the blazing pace on the dirt and gravel of Pennsylvania? Higgins has won at STPR four times in the last 13 years, putting experience on his side.

Day one started out dry, dusty, and hot. The #75 team came out fast, finishing 17 seconds ahead in Stage 1. After Stage 3, they held nearly a minute lead.

The crowd and teams moved to finish the night at the Tioga County Fairgrounds for the Super Special – but Mother Nature had other plans. Severe storms brought the day to an abrupt end and changed the course dynamics for the next day.

The dirt and gravel were wet to start day two. The sun dried out sections as the day went on, changing the conditions once again. But neither wet, dry, sunny, nor dusty could hold back the duo as built their lead stage by stage.

The final result was a spectacular finish five-and-a-half minutes ahead of the nearest competitor. But the best number of the rally was that 1st-place finish by the team, securing the Rally America National Championship title for Higgins and Drew.

More importantly, it was a record-breaking championship run, giving them their fifth consecutive National Championship title and edging out Travis Pastrana’s four consecutive championship titles.

April 29, 2015

STI Performance Concept

When the stark white cloth revealed the STI Performance Concept at the 2015 NYIAS, you knew it was destined for greatness.

First glance led to a double-take. It resembled the BRZ GT300 that debuted in 2011 and serves as current contender in the Japanese Super GT Series. (Read about the Subaru BRZ GT300.)

But the stunning beauty has more than meets the eye. Cosmetically, there is the massive rear wing, bucket racing seats, carbon fiber trim, and all the STI fixings, but the secret of the concept is what the future holds for Subaru and STI and their performance heritage.

The concept signifies a plan for expansion of the STI brand in the U.S. – beyond the current WRX STI and STI performance parts.

The first thing we will see is the replacement of Subaru Performance Tuning (SPT) aftermarket parts with STI-engineered parts. And this year, as Subaru Rally Team USA takes the brand-new 2015 WRX STI rally and rallycross cars to the competition, you will notice additional STI parts and presence.

As we look for more initiatives to come from Subaru and STI, the possibilities are endless.

Kicking the Tires with SRT USA Driver Bucky Lasek

In the signature bright orange color of the #81 and Bucky Lasek, the 2015 Subaru WRX STI Global Rallycross car made a bold debut at the 2015 NYIAS. This car is a complete 360 from the 5-Door model the team has raced the last three years.

I walked around the car with Bucky Lasek as we inspected the car he has yet to drive (teammate Sverre Isachsen took the #11 for initial testing last week).

The WRX STI features a wide body kit. A noticeable impact this will have is that the wheels will have extra coverage from the kit lines that extend outward and flow to the back. This may help with some of the impacts Lasek received last year, which resulted in significant door and frame damage.

While walking around the car, Lasek reveals that he’s excited about the new changes and upgrades to the car. He expects the gearbox to be quicker, and the modifications to the chassis and mechanical grip will make a big difference "this car is going to be insane,” exclaims Lasek.The team also has increased support from STI with additional engineered parts.

The GRC will see some new teams and new faces this year. DirtFish is entering two cars in the GRC Lite Series. Ford and Chip Ganassi are bringing in two new cars to compete against SRT USA in the Supercar class. In response to this, Lasek comments, “Bring on the new guys. I will give them a whooping,” noting that it’s not easy to drive an AWD car and the dirt should be a challenge to the unfamiliar drivers.

The first GRC race, schedule for May 31 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, will be the true test of new cars, teams, and drivers.

March 06, 2015

As I walked around the Subaru-designated area of the 2015 Chicago Auto Show, I traveled back through Subaru history from the past few years.

It started with the XV Crosstrek; the tangerine orange color took me back three years to the introduction of this new model. The orange color screams “look at me,” but the unique wheel pattern is what sets it apart. And after that came the can’t-miss-me green of the Hybrid.

The Forester XT also has undergone dramatic changes. In 2013, the distinctive scoop was missing from the hood and the air intake was rerouted through an opening above the grille. I was fortunate to have many occasions to drive this stealth beast; my favorite was with Subaru Rally Team USA (SRT USA) driver Bucky Lasek. (Read about my drive with Bucky.)

Then there is the BRZ, the first non-all-wheel drive vehicle produced by Subaru in almost 20 years. The rear-wheel drive introduced a fun sports car to the lineup. Featuring the 200-hp SUBARU BOXER engine, this road master offers excellent handing, and road-gripping performance.

Next up, the legendary WRX. Getting a facelift for 2015, this powerhouse now offers an optional Lineartronic CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission) with paddle shifters.

On display was the record-breaking Isle of Man WRX STI piloted by Mark Higgins. This nearly stock car “rocket” hit speeds of 160 mph and broke Higgins’ own previous record of 19:57 with a time of 19:15. (Read more about Higgins and Isle of Man.)

A sibling to this WRX STI was debuted by SRT USA at the 2015 Sno*Drift Rally in January and David Higgins and Craig Drew commandingly won the event. Then a new wide-body version was showcased at Rally in the 100 Acre Wood in February and performed outstandingly in the harshest winter conditions that rally has seen, allowing SRT USA to finish in a dominating 1st place.

EyeSight technology was a buzz in the Subaru area. Of course, I couldn’t help but share my personal stories about EyeSight with curious onlookers. This technology features a set of cameras that detect larger objects in front of the vehicle. With cruise control set, the system will help keep you at a minimum distance from the car in front of you if it slows down. At any speed, EyeSight will apply brakes if there is an object in front of your moving vehicle. I’ve experienced this on many occasions, including a pedestrian jumping out in front of me, a deer running in my path, and freeway traffic reducing speed significantly.

The latest innovation revealed this year is SUBARU STARLINK. This technology allows you to connect your phone to your Subaru, making your music choices nearly infinite. Pandora®, Aha™, iHeartRadio®, whatever your preference, there are many reasons to crank up the tunes as you enjoy your ride.1

What’s in store from Subaru for the next few years?

Motorsports

SRT USA driver/co-driver team of David Higgins and Craig Drew are on course to win their fifth consecutive Rally America National Championship.

Travis Pastrana will make rally and rallycross appearances beginning midseason.

With Bucky Lasek and Sverre Isachsen at the wheel for rallycross, we expect to see more exciting door-to-door racing and fights for podium spots. We also expect that they will debut new livery based on the 2015 WRX STI.

And will there be another Isle Man attempt? Or a Mt. Washington record-breaking run by SRT USA?Stay tuned this season as we follow SRT USA.

Vehicles

We know that the Impreza will be produced at Subaru of Indiana Automotive beginning in 2016.

Consumer demand for the BRZ to have more horsepower has been constant since its debut. Will there be a change to the model? We’ve seen sketches of a BRZ convertible. Follow Drive Performance magazine as we cover what the future holds for this model.

The 7-passenger Tribeca has left the lineup. Fuji Heavy Industries President,Yasuyuki Yoshinaga, has stated a new 7-passenger vehicle will be coming at some point.

Special editions: We’ve seen a Legacy Sport, WRX STI Launch Edition, and a BRZ Series.Blue. What will be the next in the lineup?

Technology

What will be the next technology innovation unveiled?

We’ve see the first Subaru hybrid. What will come to us next?

– Melissa Carlson

1 Pandora is a registered trademark of Pandora Media, Inc.Compatible smartphone and free Aha app required. For Aha to operate, latest version of Aha application and optional integrated audio and navigation system unit required. Data provided by smartphone is displayed on navigation screen. Some state laws prohibit the operation of handheld electronic devices while operating a vehicle. Smartphone apps should only be launched when vehicle is safely parked. Aha is a trademark of HARMAN International Industries, Incorporated. Your wireless carrier’s rates may apply.iHeartRadio is a registered trademark of Clear Channel.

Rallycross

Heading into their third year of GRC competition, driver’s Bucky Lasek and Sverre Isachsen on pace to have another successful year. Last year the rallycross team experienced the most final appearances, podiums, and wins in its history.

They are set to run the 2015 rallycross version of the WRX STI beginning in May. Check back for details and photos as they head into testing.

December 05, 2014

Subaru Rally Team USA (SRT USA) went into the final round of the Red Bull Global Rallycross with momentum from their 1st-place finish at Seattle. The team had achieved the coveted reward for their hard work and countless hours of preparation.

Now they found themselves in Las Vegas. Could they reach the podium again?

The Venue: the LINQ Hotel and Casino, site of the world’s largest observation tower

First Impressions

The Joker Lap ran inside of the turn exiting the jump and gave a significant advantage as long as clean lines were held.

Several hairpins made for intense door-to-door racing.

The sweeping dirt section prior to jump was a prime spot for passing, and maintaining tight drive lines was important.

Good to Go

Sverre Isachsen (#11) and Bucky Lasek (#81) had good practice rounds. The only course issue was the fine dirt that stuck in the wheels and crevices, leaving a gray hue on the cars and in the garage. The mechanics worked hard unclogging the parts to help prevent the dirt from causing mechanical mishaps on course.

The #11 car had a sensor that went bad, affecting shifting and later breaking a driveshaft after a heavy landing. But still Isachsen was able to power through the issues and qualified 4th fastest.

Lasek and Isachsen translated their fast practice times into top-five heat finishes. The drivers and their Subaru WRX STI cars were ready to contend for the podium.

It’s Showtime

In a tight battle for the transferring spots, Lasek made a daring move on the outside of the leader in the dirt section prior to entering the jump to snag the top spot and ultimately the semifinal win. He would transfer automatically and then start from the front row.

Isachsen was unable to finish in a transfer spot, leaving him to fight for a spot in the LCQ. The eight-car LCQ was only four laps long and the top four finishers would advance to the final.

Starting on the inside front row, Isachsen showed his notorious Viking warrior style, commanding the inside of Turn 1 and taking the lead, and driving his #11 to win the LCQ.

All In

As the sun went down, the bright lights of the city filled the sky. With the overall title being up for grabs, it was sure to be an intense race. In true rallycross form, sparks were flying by the first corner.

A clean start by Lasek put him in position to take Turn 1 in 2nd place and just to the outside of the lead car. A dive-in by a competitor into Lasek’s drive line sent them both careening into the outside tire barrier and red flagging the race.

The drivers lined up again: Lasek returned to the front row, his competitor starting from the back – a penalty for causing the contact. The restart was clean and the battle was on.

Lasek fought hard to keep the pack behind him and earn a spot on the podium, achieving him a 3rd-place finish.

From the back of the 10-car grid, Isachsen battled with the middle of the pack, providing some deflection to help keep the competition occupied behind his teammate Lasek. Isachsen produced a respectable 5th-place finish, but as one team, a podium finish for one car is celebrated by all.

October 10, 2014

GRC LA

The Red Bull Global Rallycross double-header took place in San Pedro, California, boasting the port of Long Beach as its backdrop. This was the only double-header of the season.

This weekend packed triple the excitement and drama as all three, yes, three, Subaru WRX STI rallycross cars were ready to compete and win.

From the beginning, Sverre Isachsen (#11) looked to be a contender for the top spot and Bucky Lasek (#81) was gunning for his next podium. Travis Pastrana (#199) spent a few laps getting his rallycross wheels back under him after not being on track since X Games in June, but he quickly produced some of the quickest lap times. The fast pace of practice and heat races looked promising for the entire team to capture podium spots.

On Day 2, Isachen and Pastrana transitioned their quick practice times into spots in the final. Lasek was left to fight his battle in the LCQ. In his standard fearless fashion, Bucky was quick off the line, but was tagged from behind and then landed a hard hit to his door, causing the race to be red flagged. Even with a clean restart, Lasek wasn’t able to fully recover and couldn’t advance.

The final race posted the #11 and #199 cars on the second row, in the thick of the pack. On the first lap, Isachsen suffered a flat tire and closed up his tailpipe, shutting down his run for the podium.

The race was still on for Pastrana, who finished 6th and retained the only intact Subaru for the race the next day. Through the evening hours, the teams of Lasek and Isachsen pulled off engine swaps and other major maintenance changes.

Day 3 brought the second event of the weekend. Isachsen was the quickest of the Subaru cars in the morning practice runs. On the first lap of qualifying, Pastrana sustained a flat tire, but rebounded to advance from his heat race to the finals. Lasek’s Subaru showed no outward signs of the carnage from the day before and a strong semifinal run put him alongside his teammate for the final. In a complete turn of events, Isachsen failed to advance to the final via the semifinals and was forced to contend in the LCQ. Turning up his competitiveness, Isachsen left the entire field behind him in the LCQ, earning a spot for the third Subaru in the final.

In the opening lap of the final, the Subaru rallycross cars were running 4th, 5th, and 6th. Lasek, in 4th, took the joker at the end of lap 1, but was unable to advance. Pastrana and Isachsen took the joker on lap 2, allowing Pastrana to advance his car to 4th. Isachsen remained in 6th. Lasek and Isachsen battled each other for that 5th spot lap after lap. A mishap by Pastrana opened the door for Lasek and Isachsen and put Pastrana back to 8th. The Viking Warrior was able to outrace Lasek at the end to take 4th, and, with it, SRT USA produced their best team result of the season.

GRC Seattle

SRT USA headed from Los Angeles to Seattle, knowing they had the cars set up to win. The second to last round was held at DirtFish Rally School in Snoqualmie, Washington.

Once again, the team had a third car in their lineup – Rally America driver David Higgins was getting behind the wheel for his first rallycross race since 2012.

This all-gravel course was the first of its kind this year and required a different set of driving skills as the course changed with each lap. Day 1 was a wet mess, requiring tread tires for the first time this race season.

Also unique to this course was a tunnel, an old planer building once used for cutting lumber. While it looked cool, the changing light from shade to bright sunlight was blinding, and the tunnel played an important role in the course layout.

From the semifinal, Isachsen moved on, continuing his streak of making all but one race finals this year. Both Lasek and Higgins failed to advance, leaving them to fight in the LCQ for the final four spots. On the green-light signal, Lasek’s car failed to start, leaving him alone at the start and eventually behind the pack.

Smart and skillfull driving by Higgins in the LCQ placed him in 2nd after taking his joker lap and setting him up to drive in the finals.

Isachen took the early lead on the first lap in his STI and never looked back, leading the entire 10-lap final to take the win.

Fighting from the back of the grid, Higgins was able to get all the way up to 4th before mechanical issues dropped him back into 8th.

It was an exciting weekend series. The win bumped Isachsen up to 5th in the overall series standings and Subaru now sits 3rd in the manufacturer standings with one race to go!

Missed out on the action? Check out Launch Control for the video series on the team.

August 13, 2014

During the last couple of weeks, rally and rallycross fans have witnessed a number of Subaru drivers celebrating on top of their cars! Here's what that's all about. (Keep in mind the numbers 1 and 2.)

Rally Championship -- Number 1

Subaru Rally Team USA (SRT USA) drivers/co-drivers David Higgins/Craig Drew and Travis Pastrana/Chrissie Beavis attacked the New England Forest Rally with a vengeance in mid-July. Both #75 and #199 WRX STI rally cars earned stage wins, and both suffered from road-induced damage that kept the battle for 1st place a seesaw affair between them.

Winning is never easy, no matter who you are. Struggling with flat tires, having to patch up a destroyed rear suspension to be able to make it into service, being blasted full-face by a fire extinguisher -- these were just some of the obstacles to a 1-2 finish by Higgins/Drew and Pastrana/Beavis. SRT USA #75 and #199 finished the rally only through the committed efforts of everyone on the team.

The win ensured the 4th straight title for Higgins/Drew and SRT USA in the Rally America National Championship, with two more events to go in the season.

Meanwhile, south of New England on Long Island, New York, SRT USA's rallycross cars turned up the heat in pitched battles of their own. Drivers Sverre Isachsen (#11 WRX STI) and Bucky Lasek (#81 WRX STI) have steadily marched forward in the ranks of the Red Bull Global Rallycross Championship (GRC) through the 2014 season.

The nature of rallycross is having to endure (and inflict) aggressive bouncing, banging, and bashing -- sometimes to emerge broken -- all while doing anything and everything possible to win any given race. In that regard, the 2014 season has been exceedingly difficult. However, both drivers have reached the podium in Red Bull GRC finals -- the best at this writing is Isachsen's team-best 2nd at Red Bull GRC Charlotte at the end of July.

Neither the Rally America National Championship nor the Red Bull GRC have reached the ends of their seasons -- there's more rally and rallycross action to be had, and SRT USA is scheduled to contend the remaining events.

Rally America has two more rounds -- watch for keen competition between Higgins/Drew and Pastrana/Beavis!

Red Bull GRC has four more rounds -- cheer on Isachsen and Lasek as they reach for the top step of the podium!

July 18, 2014

Rally

Subaru Rally Team USA (SRT USA) driver David Higgins and co-driver Craig Drew continue their dominance this year in the Rally America National Championship series with a record-breaking run at the Subaru Mt. Washington Hillclimb. Their final run of 6 minutes, 09.09 seconds on Sunday, June 29, broke David’s record from 2011 by more than 2 seconds, giving them the title “King of the Hill.”

Following their teammates, driver Travis Pastrana and co-driver Chrissie Beavis were only 3 seconds behind. Travis previously broke the record in 2010 in a Subaru WRX STI.

Adding to Hillclimb History

The Mt. Washington Hillclimb, aka Climb to the Clouds, was first run in 1904 and is one of the oldest motorsports events in the United States.

This year’s entry list of 75 was the largest in the history of the race, with more than 60 cars starting the race the first day.

New this year is that this event was included on the Rally America National Championship schedule.Read more.

Rallycross

Following Bucky Lasek’s silver-medal finish at X Games Austin, the team was in high spirits. The next stop on June 21-22 was a rallycross debut in Washington, D.C. A temporary course was set up outside RFK Stadium.

Smooth practice sessions for SRT USA gave the #11 WRX STI of Sverre Isachsen and the #81 WRX STI of Bucky the fastest times. The .49-mile course, with 10 turns and a table jump, seemed to agree with both drivers.

The teammates battled side by side in heat races, and, for the first time this year, both the #11 and #81 made the final event. Sverre qualified through his heat race, and Bucky grabbed a spot through the Last Chance Qualifying heat.

The event final was 11 cars deep, and the course didn’t offer many places to find time or pass other cars. At the race start, Sverre jumped the lights, and he held himself back to prevent being penalized. As a result, he started the race in last place, and finished in 10th place. Bucky in #81 was in the third row at the green flag. He made a good start off the line and maintained 7th position until he limped to the end of the race on a punctured tire, retiring in 11th place.

The Best Fans Around

Although not the results the team had hoped for, it was a great event for witnessing the passion for Subaru, the drivers, and the teams.

Subaru Motorsports App

This app debuts an interactive 360-degree video playback capability that provides users a virtual racing experience like no other.

"To our knowledge we are the first brand in the world to launch an app with this amazing video capability for motorsports use," stated Rob Weir, Subaru motorsports marketing manager. "It's certainly a game-changer in motorsports media and we're excited to be leading the way."

The app features shareable Subaru Motorsports images, videos, team updates, and racing schedules, and notifies users about local races and team events in their area. The Subaru “Launch Control” video series also is included in the app.

July 15, 2014

Rally America National Championship

David Higgins and Craig Drew won the Susquehannock Trail Performance Rally in Pennsylvania, putting the duo considerably out front of the competition as they try for the team’s fourth consecutive series championship. Only four events remain in the Rally America National Championship schedule.

Isle of Man

Mark Higgins set a new lap record for the 37-mile Isle of Man TT Road Course in a 2015 Subaru WRX STI. His average lap speed of 116.470 and a time of 19.26 break the previous record, which Higgins set three years ago in a 2010 Subaru WRX STI.

June 23, 2014

And with his X Games Rallycross medal, Bucky joins an elite group of athletes who have medaled in two different disciplines.

The Road to the Medal

Subaru Rally Team USA (SRT USA) fielded three cars for X Games Austin rallycross – the usual #11 of Sverre Isachsen and #81 of Bucky Lasek, plus a special appearance by Travis Pastrana in #199, his only rallycross event for this year.

This year’s X Games course was short and tight, tucked into a corner of the Circuit of the Americas track – in the area of Turns 12 through 16. [LINK TO VENUE MAP – http://xgamesaustin.com/venue-map/.]

The race start straightaway led into a tight dirt section, followed by a hairpin turn into a small jump. By comparison, this jump wasn’t as big or technically difficult as the jumps for previous X Games courses. As usual from a rallycross multi-\car start, most of the action occurred in the front dirt section going into the first corner, where bumping and tagging left many of the competitors disabled and out of the competition.

Race Seeding

Seeding for the heat races was held early in the day. Timed laps determined heat-race placement. Sverre came out strong, giving him a front-row advantage for his heat race. Travis and Bucky posted slower lap times, placing them on the back rows for their heats.

Heat Races

Six-lap heat races were run with five cars in each heat. The top three finishers were to advance to the semi finals.In the first heat race, Sverre got a great start off the line, beating the competition going into the dirt section. Contact from another car into Sverre’s rear wheel sent him sideway, crashing his front end into the concrete barrier. Then the #11 suffered more damage as the other car continued to drive through Sverre, retiring him from the games.

In the next heat race, Travis was paired with some of the top competition. From the start, he was in 3rd and closely battled the 2nd-place finisher. Travis also swapped spots with the 4th-place vehicle before finishing in 3rd and advancing to the semi finals.

The final heat race featured Bucky in his eye-catching, orange-accented #81 WRX STI. Bucky went out in the 4th spot, avoiding the mayhem that had been dished up by the first dirt section all day, collecting unsuspecting drivers before the first lap was half over. Lap after lap Bucky’s line was tight and to the inside of the hairpin, and eventually that gave him the opportunity to move up in position. With a 2nd-place finish, Bucky moved on to the semifinals.

Semifinals

Twelve cars advanced to the two 4-lap semifinal runs, with the top three finishers then advancing to the final round. Travis and Bucky were both in the same heat, forcing these teammates to battle each other while also trying to beat their competitors. In the end, Bucky took the last advancing spot while Travis narrowly missed out.

Final Race

So the stage was set. One lonely Subaru WRX STI. Driven by a 19-time X Games skateboard medalist. Up against drivers with more racing experience, most of whom had won podium spots in the Global Rallycross Championship series in previous events. But if there was anyone up for this back-row challenge, Bucky was your man.

His battle began on the first turn, where his closest competition sandwiched him in a constant battle for 2nd through 4th. As the trend continued, the race was red-flagged to clear a damaged car from the track within the first few laps.

Restart

The cars lined up in the same position as for the race start, except for the damaged car and the one that had been disqualified for causing the accident. Bucky was slow getting to the line, indicating that he may have had some kind of mechanical issue.

Upon restart, Bucky didn’t take off right away and lurched forward, restarting the race in 4th gear with eight laps to go.

Bucky battled for 3rd place, riding the bumper of the car in front of him.

With a few laps to go, that car in front of him took the joker lap for the second time in the race, giving that driver a stop-and-go penalty and leaving space for Bucky to move up to 2nd. With only a few laps to go, the leader was out of reach for Bucky. He took the checkered flag in 2nd, giving him his first rallycross podium and his first X Games medal in rallycross, all without a clutch in his #81.

This X Games medal made Bucky one of a few athletes who has medaled in two different disciplines.

He rode into the pits in true Bucky style – on the hood of his Subaru WRX STI, wearing his silver medal, and holding up his guitar … true to his Rockstar sponsorship.

February 25, 2014

February 21-22, 2014 -- Rally in the 100 Acre Wood, Salem, Missouri: Subaru Rally Team USA's #75 David Higgins/Craig Drew entered this rally in 1st place in the Rally America National Championship. A mechanical issue ended day two early for the team -- and out of the points. However, Higgins/Drew remain in 1st, albeit only one point ahead of two other teams.

Travis Pastrana (healing a broken leg and dislocated ankle) with co-driver Chrissie Beavis rejoined SRT USA after three years of other pursuits. They emerged from the Mark Twain Forest in their #199 WRX STI with a 2nd-place finish ... and a 7th in the overall standings for the 2014 season -- only six points down from Higgins.

January 30, 2014

Last weekend, Subaru Rally Team USA (SRT USA) began the 2014 Rally America National Championship season at the Sno*Drift Rally in Atlanta, Michigan. Driver/co-driver David Higgins/Craig Drew started their defense of last year's championship with heavy-duty offense, winning 16 of 20 stages and finishing more than two minutes ahead of the competition.

You'll also find images and more information about SRT USA at Sno*Drift on the Subaru rally website. Keep up with SRT USA on the site, and take a look at last season's Launch Control series for a behind-the-scenes look at SRT USA and the Subaru rallycross team.

With Round 1 of eight for the Rally America National Championship in the books, we look forward to next month's 100 Acre Wood Rally near Salem, Missouri. That's where Travis Pastrana is scheduled to rejoin SRT USA.

Subaru Rally Team USA (SRT USA) 2014 Rally America Schedule

Round/Date

Event

Location

Driver/Co-Driver

Finishing

Standing

Round 1January 24-25

Sno*Drift Rally

Atlanta, MI

David Higgins/Craig Drew

1

1

Here is the complete 2014 Rally America National Championship schedule. Follow the championship.

January 23, 2014

Subaru of America, Inc. President and COO Tom Doll had plenty to share during the company's press conference at the North American International Auto Show on Tuesday (1/14/14). He had three times more good news than Subaru fans were expecting -- in three reveals.

First Subaru reveal: Subaru had prepared us to tune in and watch its presentation of the new WRX STI. After a recap of legendary STI product of the past, the silver 2015 WRX STI sedan emerged from the smoke and lights to the crowd's delight. Read more here.

Second reveal: What we weren't expecting was the WRC Blue and gold-wheeled Launch Edition that was driven out of door number 2. Find more information here.

Third reveal: Then, nonchalantly, Doll quietly announced that "the prodigal son has returned to Subaru" -- popular driver and four-time Rally America National Champion Travis Pastrana is returning to Subaru Motorsports during the 2014 season. He'll enter rally and X Games events with the team. Catch up with Pastrana here.

December 20, 2013

As we close in on the end of the year, we look at the 2013 Motorsports highlights.

1. Subaru Rally Team USA (SRT USA) driver David Higgins and co-driver Craig Drew won the Rally America National Championship. 2. This was the third consecutive series championship for David Higgins and Craig Drew. (Higgins won two others previously.)3. SRT USA claimed 3 victories out of the 7 rallies.4. Subaru Motorsports Teams stood on the podium 9 times.5. Subaru Rallycross Team driver Sverre Isachsen won bronze at X Games Los Angeles.6. Sverre Isachsen placed 7th in overall standings for Global Rallycross.

7. Subaru Rallycross Team driver Bucky Lasek placed 11th in overall standings for Global Rallycross.8. Subaru Rallycross Team driver Bucky Lasek swept the gold medals for all four 2013 X Games skateboard vert (yes, we know this isn’t motorsports, but he rocks on four wheels, read article).

9. 64,000 viewers watched Episode 1 of Launch Control, with 488,000 total viewers watching more than 2 hours of behind-the-scenes clips.10. The Subaru BRZ GT300 took 2 podiums in 2013 in the SUPER GT aeries in Asia.

Top Items to Look Forward to in 2014

1. Another Subaru Rally Team USA championship.2. Rally season begins on January 24 with Sno*Drift (like we haven’t already been drifting in the snow).3. Subaru Mt. Washington Hillclimb June 26-29. Will it be dominated by a Subaru again?

4. The 2015 WRX will be available (read about its LA Auto Show introduction )!5. X Games will be moving from Los Angeles to Austin (June 5-8).6. The BRZ GT300 will be running in the 2014 SUPER GT series.7. Subaru Tecnica International (STI) will return to the 24-Hour Nürburgring race June 19-22, with a newly developed race car. (Read the News Release).

May 20, 2013

It's mid-May, and Subaru Motorsports teams are percolating with excitement.

Subaru Rally Team USA (SRT USA)

Already three rounds deep into the season, Subaru Rally Team USA has a substantial lead in the Rally America National Championship -- three stage rallies, with one 2nd-place finish and two 1st-place finishes.

The last was the Oregon Trail Rally, where SRT USA raced against other teams at Portland International Raceway and on gravel and dirt roads with Mount Hood as a backdrop. Driver/co-driver David Higgins/Craig Drew started strongly and never let up. They set stones flying, water rising, and dust clouds hanging with stolid determination. In addition, key competitors faced insurmountable challenges. Read more, plus find videos and photos at the Subaru Motorsports rally site.

For the weekend of May 16-19, SPRT shipped off to Spain to enter the Global Rallycross Championship (GRC) fray at X Games in Barcelona, Spain. However, GRC had to contend with unusually heavy rains, which eventually caused cancellation of the event. Find more about SPRT in Barcelona here.

Since the end of last season, SPRT has worked diligently to make its WRX STI rallycross cars more competitive for drivers Sverre Isachsen, Bucky Lasek, and Dave Mirra. Click here for a press release about SPRT in GRC for 2013.

March 01, 2013

Standing at spectator points during a rally, you'll find conversations centered on two things -- cars and weather. Spectator Point D for Stage 13 of the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood in Missouri February 22-23 was typical. While waiting for the first car to come by, I heard and participated in discussions about:

An unsolvable problem with a luxury SUV's V-8 engine

The year the snow fell so hard in a flash storm that stages were canceled due to limited visibility

The duct-tape car -- an older Subaru that was decorated with duct tape of many colors: not talking so much about the car, but about the concept of entering the rally with it; where do you suppose they thought up that idea?!

The Ken Block stone, which pelted the storyteller in a previous Rally in the 100 Acre Wood event -- the storyteller wanted to take it home and put it in a shadow box marked "Hoonigan" along with a cellphone that played a continuous-loop video of the car going through the corner and spewing stones. However, he couldn't determine which of the rocks at his feet had hit him. (You run into insightful ideas such as this all the time at a rally. And this one did not allow alcohol.)

The word hoonigan started a conversation about hoonigan duct tape (see above), duct-tape wallets, yellow caution tape emblazoned with hoonigan in a stylized font, and so on

How the stage will start soon (it was behind schedule) -- there must have been a problem in an earlier stage

Who was left in the rally, and who had dropped out due to accidents or mechanical failure

The hole at the midpoint of the corner where we were -- triangular, and deep and wide enough to swallow any of the vehicles in the rally; speculation ranged on what to do about the hole:-- Fill it in with a small car-- Use a large car as a bridge-- Jump it

Pictures taken at stages earlier in the rally -- "Did you see this car?" -- which led to even more animated conversation about the mid-1960s Saab with its two-cycle engine that had entered the rally

The person next to me having a Saab of the same vintage; what are the odds?

Being patient ("The cars will be by soon ...")

How Ken Block's dominance at this event had been broken

Dinner -- "Do we have enough time to go to Potosi for some Mexican food and come back for the next spectator point?"

It was the Saab that kept most of the spectators at Spectator Point D until all other entries (including leader Subaru Rally Team USA David Higgins/Craig Drew) had passed. The crowd stayed and cheered not because of the brand or the driver, but with respect and curiosity because of the car's history, age, and unique properties. It was enlightening to see how much state-of-the-art rally cars have changed over 50 years.

Read more about the overall win by Subaru Rally Team USA here in a report that includes an excellent video about the rally.

February 18, 2013

During the last week of January, Subaru Rally Team USA (SRT USA) began its season in the Rally America National Championship in Michigan at the Sno*Drift Rally. Driver/co-driver David Higgins/Craig Drew were on hand to begin defending last year's championship season. Here's what Subaru had to say about the team in anticipation of the weekend.

As part of the 48HRS of Tristate charity drive the weekend before Sno*Drift, I had seen the new livery on the #75 WRX STI -- blue and white with black and gray accents. Crisp and clean. Here it is on display in technical partner Vermont SportsCar's facility in Colchester, Vermont.

The rally was hotly contested, especially between SRT USA and Canadian Rally Champion Antoine L'Estage/Nathalie Richard. In the end, Higgins/Drew finished 2nd, only 6.2 seconds behind the Canadians. Details are here, along with video.

That leaves us in between, anticipating a rematch at Rally in the 100 Acre Wood in Missouri February 22-23. This second round of the Rally America series has been dominated by Ken Block/Alex Gelsomino the last six years, so everyone is out to steal the show from them. Check Rally America for a preview.

Conditions for the Rally in the 100 Acre Wood around the Mark Twain National Forest and the Ozark foothills are unpredictable. During the last few years, we've stood in spectator areas through rain, sleet, and snow that falls so hard it causes stages to be canceled. Oh, yes, at sporadic times the sun shines through, but those times are hard to remember.

And there's lots of mud ... everywhere.

But the other side of it is the action -- the cars screaming by just a few feet away, sliding and throwing gravel everywhere. You see different lines taken through the corners, along with slight mistakes that result in time spent extracting a car from a muddy ditch.

Plus, always, there's the sound of Subaru performance exhausts. Whether the cars are in the middle of a heated stage, in transit to the next stage, tuning or warming up in service, those exhaust notes convince you that there's only one legitimate rally sound -- that of a Subaru!

So come on out! The season is still new. Plus, the weather will be fine for rally. Grab your warmest coat and meet me there.

February 01, 2013

I love driving on snow-covered roads, especially if there are drifts. But I never thought I'd hear anyone else ask, "When do we get to the snowy roads?"

Those are the kind of people you hang out with when you participate in this charity drive that raises money for the American Cancer Society. The 48HRS of Tristate drive took place January 17-20, 2013.

Where were the snow-covered roads? Here's where they were NOT -- Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and even Vermont, at least on the routes we took. But on the second day of the drive, twisting around the mountains in northern New York, we found them. Accompanied by moderate snow squalls, the snow-packed roads were a delight for us Subaru drivers.

Fifty-five Subaru vehicles took part in the 2013 version of 48HRS of Tristate -- three days of driving close to 1,000 miles. More importantly, the drivers and passengers raised almost $32,000 for cancer research. This is the heart of the weekend.

Although our drives took place over three different routes in three different groups, the dynamics were similar. Communicating via CB radios, each group of 13 and more vehicles plied roads that the group leaders had devised. All of them strove for scenery and fun-to-drive roads. They succeeded.

For added interest, we made stops at motorsports team headquarters. That allowed us to talk with team owners and see the latest race cars -- all being prepared for their 2013 seasons.

Participants drove everything from 1990s Impreza and Forester vehicles to Legacy and Outback models. At least one Baja joined the pack, and I had a 2013 XV Crosstrek that started its journey with a little more than 500 miles on the odometer.

Find maps, see photographs, and read more about the event here. Find another gallery here. Read a Drive Performance article about charity drives here.